Carl’s Junior debuts all-natural hamburger

Carl’s Jr. has made moves to provide healthier options for their customers, from offering turkey and veggie burgers to catering to people with gluten sensitivities. The company is delving deeper into the health-conscious world by debuting a new “all-natural” burger on Dec. 17.

People studying for culinary certificates know, the major food concerns of the moment are not just what are healthy options. People are looking for less chemical, more animal friendly options in ingredients at home and at their favorite fast food restaurants.

According to USA Today, Carl’s Jr.’s new burger is made out of grass-feed, free-range beef from Australia that contains no steroids, antibiotics or added hormones. A single “all-natural” patty burger at the chain will cost $4.69. The double, a quarter pounder that costs $6.99, is the most expensive burger offered at Carl’s Jr.

Brad Haley, the chef marketing officer of Carl’s Jr.’s parent company CKE, says that the burger term “all-natural” is in accordance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s definition.

According to the USDA, a “free range” label means the producers demonstrated that the animals were allowed to access the outside. “Natural” means that the product has been minimally processed and has no artificial ingredients or added colors.

Other fast food chains are getting in on the healthy trend by cutting out processed meats, providing vegan and gluten-free options and having more nutritional information available when asked. Chipotle recently introduced tofu to their menus, enticing the vegan and vegetarian crowds with an animal-friendly source of protein. McDonald’s uses canola oil for their fries and offers grilled chicken instead of fried, as well as many low-fat options for Happy Meals and other menu items.

The Carl’s Jr. all natural burger will be available after Dec. 17 for a trial period. According to the company, the patty contains 760 calories and 44 grams of fat.